Drummer T.S. Monk's sextet has quickly become one of the top repertory bands
of hard bop. They revive quite a few obscurities on their Blue Note CD,
including such forgotten compositions as J.J. Johnson's "Kelo,"
and Clifford Jordan's "Middle of the Block," and Idrees Sulieman's
"Doublemint," songs that are not exactly performed every day.
They also perform more recent compositions by the likes of James Williams,
Bobby Watson, Donald Brown and some of the bandmembers. Trumpeter Don Sickler's
arrangements and transcriptions insure that the band plays the songs properly.
With consistently inventive solos from Sickler, altoist Bobby Porcelli (who
often takes honors), Willie Williams on tenorand soprano, pianist Ronnie
Mathews and bassist Scott Colley, there is no weak link to this excellent
sextet. The band adds to rather than merely copies the tradition. ~ Scott
Yanow, All Music Guide

Drummer T.S. Monk's debut as a leader in jazz found him discarding his earlier
R&B-ish music in favor of heading an impressive hard bop revival group.
With trumpeter Don Sickler transcribing obscure songs from 1960s-era records,
Monk and his band were able to perform little-played numbers by Kenny Dorham,
Hank Mobley, Idrees Sulieman, Elmo Hope, Walter Davis, Jr., Clifford Jordan,
Donald Brown and Tommy Turrentine in addition to three by Monk's father
Thelonious. Sickler and Monk are joined in the consistently exciting group
by altoist Bobby Porcelli, Willie Williams on tenor, pianist Ronnie Mathews
and bassist James Genus. The T.S. Monk Sextet was just beginning its long
life with this recording; all of its CDs are highly recommended to hard
bop fans. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

T.S. Monk, by successfully keeping his sextet together as a regularly working
outfit for several years, has been able to form a recognizable group sound
in the hard bop tradition. Trumpeter Don Sickler's skills at transcribing
charts from records has been a major asset and the band's emphasis of obscurities
has resulted in a very fresh repertoire; certainly Buddy Montgomery's "Budini,"
Melba Liston's "Just Waiting," and even Walter Davis Jr.'s "Gypsy
Folk Tales" would never qualify as standards. In addition to the older
material (which includes an offbeat version of Thelonious Monk's "Bolivar
Blues"), pianist Ronnie Mathews and altoist Bobby Porcelli have contributed
newer pieces that fit the group's style. Although sometimes overlooked,
T.S. Monk's sextet (which also includes Willie Williams on tenor and soprano
and bassist Scott Colley) has no weak links and is one of the most consistently
satisfying jazz groups from the mid-'90s. Their fine disc is easily recommended.
~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

T.S. Monk
House of Music
1981 Mirage Records

1 Bon Bon Vie (Gimme The Good Life)
2 Can't Keep My Hands To Myself
3 Candidate For Love
4 Hot Night In The City
5 House Of Music
6 Last Of The Wicked Romancers
7 Stay Free Of His Love

T.S. Monk
More of the Good Life
1981 Mirage Records
1 Everybody Get on up and Dance
2 Too Much Too Soon
3 Falling in Love With You
4 Oh! Oh! Speedo
5 First Lady of Love
6 More to Love
7 You're Askin' Me, I'm Askin' You (Buggin' Me Out)

To celebrate what would have been his father Thelonious Monk's 80th birthday,
drummer T.S. Monk put together an all-star group (an expanded version
of his sextet) and toured, performing an all-Thelonious program. Just
prior to the beginning of the live performances, T.S. and his band recorded
this CD. The music is excellent, but there are so many guest artists making
cameo appearances (including trumpeters Roy Hargrove, Clark Terry, Arturo
Sandoval and Wallace Roney, Wayne Shorter on soprano, tenors Grover Washington
Jr. and Jimmy Heath, pianists Herbie Hancock and Geri Allen, bassists
Ron Carter, Christian McBride and Dave Holland and singers Dianne Reeves
and Kevin Mahogany) that one never really gets to hear Monk's band very
much. Considering that T.S.'s unit includes altoist Bobby Watson and singer
Nnenna Freelon (both of whom are only heard from briefly), it is a pity
that he opted for so many unnecessary guests. There are good versions
of such tunes as "Little Rootie Tootie" (which has a very effective
Grover Washington Jr. tenor solo), "Crepuscule With Nellie"
(one of the few renditions of a band actually stretching out on this theme),
and "Bright Mississippi," plus the debut of a recently discovered
Monk composition ("Two Timer"), so this set is recommended.
But one is left looking forward to hearing the actual T.S. Monk ensemble
interpret the songs. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Drummer Monk's follow-up to the 1998 Jazz CD of the Year Monk on Monk is
a departure from both that album and his previous pop-funk efforts. Playing
Roland V-10 electric drums and additional acoustic percussion, Monk and
arranger Don Sickler are striving for a different sound, which they largely
achieve. Diversity is the password, as the two avoid getting stuck in ruts
or etched in stone, while using jazz foundations to create organs of woodwind-
and brass-fired beauty, tastefully triggered by percussion. The middle of
the CD really defines their sound; Donald Brown's "Smile of the Snake"
has a broader, slyer grin than the original version, and is much faster
and funkier. The James Williams piece "A Touching Affair" sports
a tabla and funk-lite sound that would please Creed Taylor. (Note: ex-Jazz
Messengers Brown and Williams are pianists -- not on this session -- from
Memphis.) Highlights include the hard-bopping "Squeaky Clean"
and the simply gorgeous horns on the aforementioned "Heart" and
the Jazz Messenger-ish "A Chant for Bu." The CD goes out with
a bang on the title track, inexorably funky but with as potent and punchy
a horn chart as you'll hear -- fully realized, deliberate, jazzy. Saxophonists
Willie Williams and Bobby Porcelli are outstanding throughout, especially
when they play together. Sickler, in his double duty as arranger and trumpeter,
is quite innovative and dependable. Monk made a bold move in doing a recording
such as this, and it should be appreciated that he did it his way. ~ Michael
G. Nastos, All Music Guide